Review: Mumford & Sons – Babel

As Mumford & Sons’ biggest fan, I was looking forward to the new album more than you could possibly imagine.

I was hoping for the same folksy, raspy, upbeat feel with a dash of longing, sorrow, and love that we got with their first album ‘Sigh No More.’ Not only did I get my folksy fix, I also had a chance to chill out, too.

‘Babel’ kicks things off with the album’s title track. With this song, expect the traditional Mumford feel that makes you want to throw your head back and yell the lyrics at the top of your lungs.

Before you reach the end of the closing song, ‘Not With Haste,’ expect to experience the highs, lows, dark moments and light moments with an array of vulnerability, strength, inspiration, and emotion throughout each and every song.

While waiting for the album to release, I wondered what the new songs would hold in store for me. I hoped that it would be similar to the beloved first album in the sense that I wanted the same semi-mysterious yet extremely touching and poetic lyrics that we all love from Mumford.

To be honest, at first I wasn’t sure how much I liked the new songs, but after only listening to this album and nothing else for about three days, I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, this was one of the best albums I’ve ever heard and it not only lived up to ‘Sign No More,’ but it surpasses it tenfold.

You can certainly tell with the lyrics, the vocals, the instruments, and the story told behind every song the men of Mumford put a lot of time and effort into this album that resulted in a product of epic proportions.

One of my favorite parts about this album is the variety of upbeat, fast songs and vulnerable, slow songs. I think people love music when they can relate it to current events in their life. I think it helps a lot of people cope with daily life, and I think this album is deep and emotional yet still vague enough to adapt to any emotional state.

If you love even one song of Mumford & Sons’, not only do I recommend you listen to this album, I demand it.

If you’re not convinced by my praise, listen to the tracks below. My personal favorites are ‘Babel,’ ‘Whispers In The Dark,’ ‘I Will Wait,’ ‘Holland Road,’ and ‘Below My Feet.’

★★★★★